Tommy was doing pull ups in the old warehouse he owned as he mentally prepared for tonight. If people were going to see him as a symbol of hope anyone else bringing shame to the identity of the hood had to be taken down. He let go of the bar falling to ground hard. He grabbed his crossbow from off the table and making sure it was in perfect condition. He was still not confidant in his bow and arrow skills enough to try using it in the field so the crossbow was going to have to do for now.
He walked over to his metal case on the desk that held his suit. He opened it and took a moment to close his eyes. He did this often when he found himself looking at the suit. He did this to remind himself why he was doing this. For Oliver, for my father, and for Starling. He was doing this to honor his friend's memory. He was doing this to right his father's wrongs. He was doing this to help his city.
Nobody yet knew Tommy Merlyn was back in Starling and he wanted it to stay that way for a while longer. He will let the Hood gain all the attention and then slip in unnoticed. Tommy Merlyn will be free of any suspension.
Laurel was hard at work in the Attorney's office where she was still looking for any leads on this new hood. He hasn't shown his face since that night he saved her from those attackers. She was grateful no doubt but she needed to know what his intentions were. Was he here to help the city? Was he on a personal mission of revenge? She needed to find him because whatever his goal is will determine if he will help him or not.
She looked at the time and remembered she had plans to meet her father. She packed up her things but before she could leave she runs into her old friend Joanna. Laurel tried to walk past her but Joanna grabbed her arm.
"Laurel, please," Joanna said.
"I told you not to talk to me," Laurel said not looking at her.
"I had no choice."
"We always have a choice," Laurel pulled away from her.
"I got a life to live," Joanna said. "I'm sorry about what happened but you can't hold this against me."
"What life do we have if we can't do the right thing?" Laurel fired back. "Because of you I lost the only witness I had that was willing to testify against Brickwell. I suppose it doesn't matter because the courts are paid off anyway."
"They threatened my mother what would you have me do."
"You could have come to me. I could have helped you. Besides I know you're on their payroll now. That's the only way you could have gotten your mother out the city. Your helping them stay out of jail Joanna. Every person they hurt is on your hands to."
With that Laurel left her former friend standing alone.
Aglin the leader of the hoods sat in his house located in the Glades counting money on his living room table. They just knocked over some rich guy's house in downtown Starling. The Hoods were a small group by choice. Aglin knew too many guys will have too many motivations. He's kept to just the four of them for the last few years. They took out the former Mayor Altman and have been a staple of Starling ever since. They knew they couldn't act just off their desires though. Brickwell lets them operate freely but he does give them a call every now and then to take out some big wigs looking to bring him down. They just have to act like there Robin Hood and give back to some of the community ever now and then. They don't go near any of Brickwell's operations and don't mess with anybody on Brickwell's payroll unless he ask them to. Another Hood named Baker walked in sitting across from him.
"We got another call from Brickwell," Baker tells him.
"Who is it this time?"
"He actually wants to know if any of our guys use a crossbow," Baker said.
Why?"
"Because his guys were attacked by a man wearing a hood the other night."
"What did you tell him?" Aglin was getting worried. Making an enemy of Brickwell was never a smart move.
"I told him no of course," he assures him.
"And?"
"He said he he'll believe us if we take someone out for him."
"Who another politician? Or is he finally going to send us after that Ray Palmer. I know he's been trying to get him for a while."
"No, it's an attorney named Dinah Laurel Lance."
"An attorney? The wont fit are MO. People will start putting together we work for him."
"Most people have come to that conclusion already Aglin," Baker tells him.
"Forget about are image. If Brickwell thinks we are going after him then that will be then end of us."
"Your right,"Aglin said. "Tell Colton to find this Lance and we'll take her out tonight."
"I got him already working on it."
On top of the roof of the building hiding in the shadows of the night Tommy sat on one knee using a device to listen in on their conversation. He saw one of the Hoods leaving before he got here. That must be the one searching for Laurel. He spotted one of the other hoods having a smoke outside. He was going to have to play this smart. These guys have a reputation for not being all that bad at what they do.
Tommy walked over to the ledge of the house and jumped off landing right on top of the man smoking. He put him in a headlock holding him tighter and tighter until he passed out. Tommy dropped his motionless body and carried him out of sight tying him up. One down three to go.
Tommy saw a van pulling up and the other hood guy returning. He got back faster than Tommy expected which means he found Laurel. Before he could enter the house Tommy came from behind the corner firing a wrist dart from his glove hitting Colton in the neck. Colton winced in pain before falling to the ground fast asleep. Two down two to go.
He opened the door to the house and entered. Pulling out a smoke bomb he had his back against the wall as he came to the living room entrance.
"Colton is that you? Jeff?" Aglin called. He looked down seeing the smoke grenade. "OH SHIT!" Aglin and Baker leaped up as the smoke dispersed blinding them.
Tommy ran into the room firing a bolt into Baker's leg quickly flooring him. Aglin reached for his shotgun firing blindly into the smoke. The only thing he could here was Baker crying out in pain. He slowly took steps back trying to make it out the smoke when suddenly felt breathing behind him. He turned quickly to fire but felt the gun yanked from his hands as a punch met his face. Tommy kicked the man in the chest sending him falling onto the table shattering it. He lifted him up by the collar and pushed him through a window making him fall into the bushes outside. Tommy looked over his shoulder seeing Baker get to him feet and fired another bolt into his leg. He walked over kicking him across the face knocking him out.
Aglin looked up seeing his worse fears emerging from the smoky house. The Hood the actual Hood was back in Starling and was here to get his revenge. He started to crawl away but felt a piercing pain hit his lower back. He fell back down as he could here footsteps getting closer and closer.
"You don't deserve to call yourselves Hoods," Tommy said activating his voice modulator. "You don't stand what I stand for."
"I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!" Aglin pleaded.
"I won't but you will tell the people I am back and anyone using my name better be on the right side or I'm coming for them."
The next day the streets were ablaze with the news of what happened. Which is what exactly Tommy wanted. Spreading the word would be the first step in fixing the city. In a bar Wilson sat having a drink overhearing all the rumors and speculations. He was watching the TV which had a story about it as well. Return of the Hood was the headline going around on every channel and newspaper. Wilson held the glass in his hand tighter and tighter until it broke. The bartender saw this and walked over to him.
"You're going to have to pay for that," he said.
Wilson ignored him getting up to leave the bar.
"Hey!" the bartender yelled.
Two guys got in Wilson's way stopping him from leaving. "The man is talking to you bum," one of them said.
"Do you know what they use to call me back in the day?" Wilson asked looking at them both with his eye.
"Was it asshole?" one said throwing a punch that Wilson caught easily.
He broke the man's wrist with a simple twist and then punched him in the throat and tossed him to the side. The other threw a punch that Wilson easily dodged and kneed him in the guy before flipping him onto the ground and broke his arm.
No one else dared approach as he left the bar. As if nothing happened he walked calmly walked down the street.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me kid," Wilson said.
"Of course not Slade. We have un-finished business," Oliver said walked beside him.
A/N: Well do to popular demand I decided to go ahead and continue this and add it to my circulation of story updates. It's been fun planning out how everyone will be effected in this universe by Oliver dying so soon into his crusade. There are certain characters I can't wait to get to down the line.
Till next time!